Flight Home
We ended up having to stay in Dallas a day longer than we had planned. We were using our airline passes for the Dall to Durango flight and Tuesday's flights were too full to try. You see pass riding is "space available" so there has to be an empty seat. This is why we rarely use our passes. They are free but too much stress for me. So we normally use our AAdvantage miles or just buy tickets.
Wednesday's 9:00 am flight was only booked half full so we had no problem and even got first class seats on the American Airlines regional jet. American has three RJ flights a day between DFW and DRO.. Due to time change to Mountain Time we landed DRO at 10:00 am. The guy who was checking our house twice a month returned my Ford Escape to the airport parking lot the day prior and said it was located on the "front" row. After walking parking lot front row for 15 minutes (and it was cool out there), I finally called him. Now he says 5 rows back!! I finally found it and drove it around to pick up our 4 checked luggage and two carry-ons. Of course Rebecca too!
Home
We made a stop at Walmart and another grocery place for food on way home, as well as a Papa Murphy's, for our traditional pizza first night back from cruises. It was 12:30 before we pulled into the driveway. We found the house pretty much just the way we left it except for dust. So first thing we did after unloading was to dust the house and hardwood floors. We both have dust allergies.
As part of our cruise package, Luggage Free was shipping 4 pieces of luggage here via FedEx. I had asked them not to ship it from Miami until 18th to make sure we would be here when delivered. Well sometime around 3:00 FedEx dropped our luggage and just sat it in front of our garage WITHOUT ringing the door bell or knocking to let us know it was out there. I found it shortly after it started to rain lightly when I was going to check our mail. I was NOT happy and besides the bags were dirty. I called and raised hell with Luggage Free, FedEx, and even Regent. Last year when returning from our South America cruise FedEx delivered our luggage dirty too. Not sure why??
So now we had eight 50 pound pieces of luggage to unpack!! So much to do that we waited a couple days before tackling that. We decided best to just chill out that first evening with some wine and pizza.
What To Do First
As one might imagine, returning home after being gone for nearly five months is daunting and scary. My major agenda item was to prepare my income tax papers to be sent to our CPA in Dallas. I
fill out an online worksheet with all my data which can be transmitted on internet. Then I have to send the supporting 1099's and other forms via FedEx to her.
Before I could compile all my data I had to open 4 1/2 months worth of mail to find what I needed. One of our neighbors (she was also our loan officer) had checked our mail and put it in big box. We got home on Wednesday and I completed the taxes on Saturday and sent it to Dallas. Big relief. Our taxes are more complicated last year due to buying a house, selling a house, and even selling an investment lot on golf resort south of Ft Worth. So I hope Kim can figure it all out.
Rebecca started working on unpacking with some help from me. My next project was to wash both front and rear patio areas. When in Dallas we ordered some patio furniture from Home Depot to be delivered here so wanted it clean when it arrived. Since then we have ordered a table and chairs for the patio also from Home Depot. They have some pretty nice stuff at very reasonable prices. Sunday we went to Home Depot to buy a lawn mower. Home Depot gives veterans a 10% discount on things bought in their stores nationwide. So Monday afternoon I fired it up and mowed the yard. It needed it badly. Good thing I got a self-propelled Toro as was still huffing and puffing at this 6300 foot altitude.
After luggage was unpacked the next trick was finding place for all the clothes. Now I had to attack the garage. I had it so we could get both vehicles in it while on the cruise but barely. By the way when on extended trips, I disconnect the car battery cables. Some things, like the clock, are powered all the time and could possibly drain the battery over extended periods. I spent one full day organizing the garage and it looks much better. Next I had to check the lawn sprinkler system and replace some heads. Ran it for first full cycle last evening while we sat out on back patio sipping wine. I think I have everything outside under control now. We had been back just one week yesterday and mind boggling as to what we have accomplished.
Hold on!! We have an electrician coming today to hang a new chandelier in dining room and then hang two TV's: one in living room and one in master bedroom. Hanging the tv in bedroom will not be easy.
While organizing the garage I sat a wooden wine rack out by street. About 10 minutes later a truck stops and asks if he could take it. He lives just down street and said he collects wines so could use it. Glad it has as home now! He invited us to a neighborhood wine party on his back patio this Friday at 7:00 pm. Excited to get to meet more neighbors.
Cruise Thoughts
Guess I should sum up our thoughts about this cruise around the world. As always the places we visited, things we saw, people in other countries we met and observed, and being with old friends and crew members on board, was amazing beyond belief. Rebecca and I are truly blessed to be able to have experienced it, AGAIN. One of the questions often asked of us is, "What is your favorite destination"? That is a very subjective and tough question. I think now we will both agree that it is New Zealand. The shear beauty of this country is awesome and the people are so friendly (and they speak English). I think South Africa come in second place when we were there on our 2010 world cruise. As you may recall we left the ship for four days to do a safari.
Our Regent cruise last year which was a 72 day Circle South America was a major disappointment. Unfortunately, this cruise was disappointing in ways. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable cruise. If you had never cruised on Regent, you would be impressed. To us it was not quite up to what we expect from a Regent cruise. Since NCL bought Regent and Oceania and now run them, we have noticed some changes that we are not happy about. I have made these known to Regent management. Would I do another Regent cruise? Certainly, and we did make a "Future Cruise" deposit while on board. We have two years now to name a cruise. We have our sights set on the 2020 World Cruise if it goes around Africa. We want to enjoy our new home here in beautiful Durango and do some traveling in our own country for a couple years.
I hope you have enjoyed my photos and the word descriptions of what we experienced during this 128 night cruise. I wish I knew how many hours I devoted to this blog. Many believe me! It was worth it if YOU enjoyed it. Until the next time, God Bless you and the USA.
We ended up having to stay in Dallas a day longer than we had planned. We were using our airline passes for the Dall to Durango flight and Tuesday's flights were too full to try. You see pass riding is "space available" so there has to be an empty seat. This is why we rarely use our passes. They are free but too much stress for me. So we normally use our AAdvantage miles or just buy tickets.
Wednesday's 9:00 am flight was only booked half full so we had no problem and even got first class seats on the American Airlines regional jet. American has three RJ flights a day between DFW and DRO.. Due to time change to Mountain Time we landed DRO at 10:00 am. The guy who was checking our house twice a month returned my Ford Escape to the airport parking lot the day prior and said it was located on the "front" row. After walking parking lot front row for 15 minutes (and it was cool out there), I finally called him. Now he says 5 rows back!! I finally found it and drove it around to pick up our 4 checked luggage and two carry-ons. Of course Rebecca too!
Home
We made a stop at Walmart and another grocery place for food on way home, as well as a Papa Murphy's, for our traditional pizza first night back from cruises. It was 12:30 before we pulled into the driveway. We found the house pretty much just the way we left it except for dust. So first thing we did after unloading was to dust the house and hardwood floors. We both have dust allergies.
As part of our cruise package, Luggage Free was shipping 4 pieces of luggage here via FedEx. I had asked them not to ship it from Miami until 18th to make sure we would be here when delivered. Well sometime around 3:00 FedEx dropped our luggage and just sat it in front of our garage WITHOUT ringing the door bell or knocking to let us know it was out there. I found it shortly after it started to rain lightly when I was going to check our mail. I was NOT happy and besides the bags were dirty. I called and raised hell with Luggage Free, FedEx, and even Regent. Last year when returning from our South America cruise FedEx delivered our luggage dirty too. Not sure why??
So now we had eight 50 pound pieces of luggage to unpack!! So much to do that we waited a couple days before tackling that. We decided best to just chill out that first evening with some wine and pizza.
What To Do First
As one might imagine, returning home after being gone for nearly five months is daunting and scary. My major agenda item was to prepare my income tax papers to be sent to our CPA in Dallas. I
fill out an online worksheet with all my data which can be transmitted on internet. Then I have to send the supporting 1099's and other forms via FedEx to her.
Before I could compile all my data I had to open 4 1/2 months worth of mail to find what I needed. One of our neighbors (she was also our loan officer) had checked our mail and put it in big box. We got home on Wednesday and I completed the taxes on Saturday and sent it to Dallas. Big relief. Our taxes are more complicated last year due to buying a house, selling a house, and even selling an investment lot on golf resort south of Ft Worth. So I hope Kim can figure it all out.
Rebecca started working on unpacking with some help from me. My next project was to wash both front and rear patio areas. When in Dallas we ordered some patio furniture from Home Depot to be delivered here so wanted it clean when it arrived. Since then we have ordered a table and chairs for the patio also from Home Depot. They have some pretty nice stuff at very reasonable prices. Sunday we went to Home Depot to buy a lawn mower. Home Depot gives veterans a 10% discount on things bought in their stores nationwide. So Monday afternoon I fired it up and mowed the yard. It needed it badly. Good thing I got a self-propelled Toro as was still huffing and puffing at this 6300 foot altitude.
After luggage was unpacked the next trick was finding place for all the clothes. Now I had to attack the garage. I had it so we could get both vehicles in it while on the cruise but barely. By the way when on extended trips, I disconnect the car battery cables. Some things, like the clock, are powered all the time and could possibly drain the battery over extended periods. I spent one full day organizing the garage and it looks much better. Next I had to check the lawn sprinkler system and replace some heads. Ran it for first full cycle last evening while we sat out on back patio sipping wine. I think I have everything outside under control now. We had been back just one week yesterday and mind boggling as to what we have accomplished.
Hold on!! We have an electrician coming today to hang a new chandelier in dining room and then hang two TV's: one in living room and one in master bedroom. Hanging the tv in bedroom will not be easy.
While organizing the garage I sat a wooden wine rack out by street. About 10 minutes later a truck stops and asks if he could take it. He lives just down street and said he collects wines so could use it. Glad it has as home now! He invited us to a neighborhood wine party on his back patio this Friday at 7:00 pm. Excited to get to meet more neighbors.
Cruise Thoughts
Guess I should sum up our thoughts about this cruise around the world. As always the places we visited, things we saw, people in other countries we met and observed, and being with old friends and crew members on board, was amazing beyond belief. Rebecca and I are truly blessed to be able to have experienced it, AGAIN. One of the questions often asked of us is, "What is your favorite destination"? That is a very subjective and tough question. I think now we will both agree that it is New Zealand. The shear beauty of this country is awesome and the people are so friendly (and they speak English). I think South Africa come in second place when we were there on our 2010 world cruise. As you may recall we left the ship for four days to do a safari.
Our Regent cruise last year which was a 72 day Circle South America was a major disappointment. Unfortunately, this cruise was disappointing in ways. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable cruise. If you had never cruised on Regent, you would be impressed. To us it was not quite up to what we expect from a Regent cruise. Since NCL bought Regent and Oceania and now run them, we have noticed some changes that we are not happy about. I have made these known to Regent management. Would I do another Regent cruise? Certainly, and we did make a "Future Cruise" deposit while on board. We have two years now to name a cruise. We have our sights set on the 2020 World Cruise if it goes around Africa. We want to enjoy our new home here in beautiful Durango and do some traveling in our own country for a couple years.
I hope you have enjoyed my photos and the word descriptions of what we experienced during this 128 night cruise. I wish I knew how many hours I devoted to this blog. Many believe me! It was worth it if YOU enjoyed it. Until the next time, God Bless you and the USA.
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